From Stopover to Pallet Load: Alsace at its Best
Sometimes you have those holidays where the plan is simple: we'll see where we end up. That was exactly the case in June 2022, when we bravely headed off to Switzerland with our ten-month-old baby and a camping tent. It turned out to be a wonderful trip. The tent moved from campsite to campsite, the baby slept (occasionally), and the camping chairs held up remarkably well. As the holiday drew to a close, one question remained: How do we finish this trip the best way? Driving all the way home in one go was simply too far. So naturally, we needed a stopover. And yes, when given the choice, you stop in a wine region. Priorities matter, even when you're running on very little sleep.
Bonjour, Alsace!
Alsace quickly proved to be an excellent decision. You drive through the region and immediately think: this is France. Or perhaps Germany. Or honestly, it doesn't really matter, because it's simply beautiful. Rolling hills, charming villages that look as though they've stepped straight out of a storybook, and vineyards everywhere you look.
Alsace is famous for its elegant white wines, typically dry, fresh and expressive. Think Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer. The region benefits from warm summers thanks to the shelter provided by the Vosges Mountains. And those warm summers don't only benefit the vines. They are equally appreciated by holidaymakers sitting on sunny terraces, enjoying a glass of local wine. A win-win situation, really.
Me-Time in Colmar: An Authentic Tasting Room and an Unexpected Discovery
Travelling with a young child often means taking turns to enjoy a little time to yourself. So one afternoon, I set off on a solo mission into the centre of Colmar. That's how I found myself at Domaine Robert Karcher et Fils, in a wonderfully authentic tasting room that you certainly wouldn't describe as trendy, designer-inspired or likely to win architectural awards. But it was me-time, there was wine involved, and that combination tends to lower one's aesthetic standards quite dramatically.
It was there that I tasted a Riesling that completely caught me by surprise. Fresh, mineral and elegant. The kind of wine that immediately makes you think: "Yes, this one is coming home with us." The winery describes it as a white wine that is "fier, viril, de grande race, d’un fruité exquis et d’un bouquet délicat" Anyone who knows me will understand that French is not exactly my strongest language, but I understood enough. And that little description provided the final push that resulted in several bottles finding their way into the car. Or where it or perhaps several cases, sleep deprivation makes some details difficult to remember.
Family Traditions, Wine Trips, and a Rapidly Filling Car
Not long afterwards, Manuel set off on a wine trip with his brothers and father. It's a wonderful family tradition that stems from his father's lifelong career in the wine and beverage industry. As you may have guessed, our interest in wine didn't exactly appear out of nowhere.
Naturally, I gave Manuel one very clear instruction: Do not skip Karcher. And yes, the WhatsApp updates started arriving from France. Photos of boxes. Bottles. A car that was gradually becoming fuller and fuller. A little later, there was even a pallet on its way to the Netherlands. The Riesling turned out to be a huge success throughout the family.
At the time, it earned a place in Manuel's father's range of wines. For those who don't know him, wine is practically in his DNA. After decades in the beverage and wine trade, retirement simply gave him more time to turn his hobby into his work. Or perhaps it was the other way around. Either way, the two blended together seamlessly. By then, he had launched his own online wine business, and as soon as he tasted the Karcher Riesling, he knew immediately: "This one has to be part of the collection." And that, is how an entire pallet ended up being ordered. For the wine business, of course, in case you were wondering whether we intended to drink it all ourselves.
A Riesling That Makes Friends
What made the story even more remarkable was that this Riesling was virtually impossible to find anywhere else in the Netherlands. At the time, Manuel's father's collection was one of the very few places where it was available. Which felt almost unbelievable. Everyone who tasted it loved it. Family members. Friends. Neighbours who happened to stop by. Colleagues. The response was always the same. This became the wine that stole the show at dinners, garden parties and celebrations time and time again.
So when the first plans for our own online wine business started taking shape, the decision was easy. The Karcher Riesling had to be part of Wijnatelier Amsterdam. Not just as another bottle on the shelf, but as our house wine. A house wine of exceptional quality. The kind of bottle you always want to keep chilled and ready, because you never know when friends, family or neighbours might unexpectedly knock on the door. Especially on a warm summer's day. That's when this wine truly shines.
A Wine Worth Treasuring
In short, this is a fresh, elegant and refined wine. Exactly the style Alsace is known for. Thanks to the unique terroir of La Harth, with its warm, dry climate and gravel-rich soils, it displays the fruit, finesse and elegance for which the Karcher family has been celebrated for decades. But above all, it is a wine with a story. Our story. A family holiday. A baby who finally fell asleep. A tasting room that may not have been Instagram-worthy. A family filling a car with wine somewhere in France. And ultimately, a wine that we are now proud to share through Wijnatelier Amsterdam.
Once again, as the only retailer in the Netherlands. This is one you'll want to taste.